The Warriors are confident big wing Manu Vatuvei will be back to face Manly this weekend as they count the costs of their latest NRL loss.

The 24-19 defeat at the hands of the Newcastle Knights in Auckland last Saturday was a disaster.

The Warriors blew an 18-point lead and the loss leaves them in ninth place, two points outside the top eight. But that may get worse tonight with the eighth-placed Tigers playing the North Queensland Cowboys.

Injury-prone Vatuvei was a last minute withdrawal against the Knights as the Warriors opted for precaution following his hamstring injury against the Broncos the week before.

The Warriors rate him "a certainty" to front against the Sea Eagles on Saturday night - a rematch of last year's grand final that will be played in the unlikely setting of Patersons Stadium in Perth. Manly believe they can get a better gate there and are keen to help promote the game in Western Australia.

Vatuvei is endeavouring to become the first player in the club's history to score 100 NRL tries. His career tally sits on 98 after eight tries in 14 matches this season.

There was also good news on the medical front for skipper Simon Mannering and new sensation Konrad Hurrell.

Mannering was helped off the field after injuring his right ankle in the dying stages of the loss to the Knights but fears of a serious setback were later allayed. Hurrell returned against Newcastle after missing the Brisbane encounter with a foot injury.

He appeared to be troubled by the injury at times but saw out the match and it's hoped he'll also be cleared to take on Manly.

Interchange forward Steve Rapira won't be making the long trip west. He was forced to pull out of the Newcastle encounter after picking up a hamstring injury late in the pre-match warm-up. It's not known how long Rapira will be side-lined for.

- © Fairfax NZ News